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3/31/11

Forget the jet skis, the highly planned trips, the satellite imaging, or those expensive surfsuits. In 1971 all people had were surfboards and some maps. It was an age filled with pure romanticism around the surf community. Firm believers of these principles, a group of australians took the decision to surf the coasts of north Australia, Hawaii and Bali having only by company the old volkswagen and a video camera.

Far from living for themselves, the surfers connected with the local communities and embodied an attitude of liberty and peace towards nature and other surfers.You get the idea: hippie culture was in its heyday and more than any other, this film reflects in every sense that era. A must-watch for every surfer.

3/30/11

Once in a while there is a surf movie that actually gets to break into the main film industry and conquer the appraise of most critics. I could enumerate many reasons for this breakthrough and maybe the easiest ones would be to point that this is not an hardcore surf movie, which is true - it is a documentary -, I could also say that the narration by Edward Norton must have attracted people that otherwise would´nt give a f##k about it, which, if you think about it, is also true.

However, the secret for the imense success that the film attracted relied mostly on a group of crazy ozzies and south africans that almost alone revolutionized surf.The personalties of these mad, fearless but overly talented surfers reverbate in every minute of the movie. Solely, they are the soul and matter of what the film is made.

But let´s take it from the beginning. In the early seventies the surf spots of Australia and South Africa were not the surf meccas they are today. Those places were overshadowed by mighty Hawaii and its bunch of feared pro surfers. By the time, the famous Nort Shore was the place were the best surfers of the world came to show what they were worth. Reputations were either destroyed or gained.

Locals were dominating the scene, but not for long. In the year of 1973, six underdogs called Wayne "Rabbit", Peter Townend, Mark Richards, Ian Cairns and the cousins Michael and Shaun Tomson came to take the center stage for the surprise (and envy) of many. Their agressive style impressed the otherwise laid back hawaiian surfers and set the beginning of a strong competition in the years to come. Those bad boys with strange accents and rude attitudes were about to change the surf sport forever.They left everything to show americans what the dangerous waters were they grew teached them. What follows is pure adrenaline filled surf history...

Bustin´dow the door is after all a story about growing up and defying everything to make your own goals come true.

3/29/11

After the enormous success that the release of the movie Momentum surprisingly was, the surfers involved in it would get a steady place in the surf spotlight. Like Taj Burrow. The most respected oz between the world´s waves made in Montaj an appearance that was up to the hype.The hyperdrive sequences of technical airs and tuberiding is so futuristic that it feels almost post-apocalyptic.Montaj is all about innovation in every way: the amazing rides, the superb angles used in the film, the in-between sequences of pure adrenaline are still to this date very unique.

In Montaj you finally realize what makes Taj´s surfing so special.Already in 2002 he was one of the fastest surfers around: his smooth surfing and flare are really hard to overlook. Maybe he won´t win the world championship and make the frontpage on every surfmag, or be involved in those costly surf ads, but Taj will contine to repesent the archetype of the prodigy turned pro in spite of all the problems that fame sometimes carries.He is the wild mustang of the world´s waves and some things we only hope to remain the same for the sake of the surfing community.

By the way, in youtube you can find some fine sequences of the movie. Check it out.

3/28/11

So you think a list of the best surf movies of all time would be complete without its best surfer ? Kelly Slater got the chance to have his best skills recorded in what would become one of the classic flicks about surf ever made. Momentum was filmed by a rookie filmaker called Taylor Steele (later recognized as one of the best filmakers of the genre) in the beaches of Hawaii and California.

But don´t expect to be Kelly the only attraction in the movie: more great surfers include Taj Burrow, Mick Fanning, Joel Parkinson, Bruce and Andy Irons, Paul Roach Dann Malloy, CJ Hobgood and many others.
It´s funny to see some of the great surfers so young: most of them were barely in their twenties and others still teenagers. So important was the impact of the movie that critics were fast to call this young folks the momentum generation.

This is not a lifestyle / culture movie. What you find is raw, pure, explosive surf. Wonderfully filmed and also focused in great details. Don´t miss this piece of art.

3/27/11

Now let´s focus on this gem of the seventies. Big wednesday is a work of fiction ( not a documentary like the films we have seen here before) and the plot follows the story of three friends that learn to surf in the same town since they were kids. However, the relationship between the three dudes will have its problems and it is the dramatic credibility of the argument shows that gives the movie its ultimate triumph. Like someone stated on IMDB: "It´s the best movie about surf ever made"!

Hey man, check out this flick, it rocks. The Green Iguana was filmed in the 90´s and it became something as a instant classic of its genre. It combined not only the best surfers of the decade but also the music of some of the most memorable bands of the time. Just go check it this excerpt.

Featuring Occy, Peter King, Sunny Garcia, Munga Barry and Luke Egan. They will take you on a spin around the islands of The Green Iguana's back. By far one of the most creative surf movies ever made. Music by Damien Lovelock, Ed Kuepper, Dubrovniks, Sublime, The Cruel Sea, Hunters and Collectors, Steve Jones, Vanilla Chainsaws, Yothu Yindi and The Celibate Rifles.

This is a true classic and a top reference concerning great surf movies. The legendary surf trip around the world that is documentated in this flick took place in the sixties. Director Bruce Brown followed Mike Hynson and Robert August in a epic travel around the 5 continents. The search for the best wave took these adventurers to the coast of Africa, Thaiti, New Zealand, Australia and other places around the world.About the title, one of the authors stated that if one had enough time and money it would be possible to follow the summer around the world,making it endless.

See this movie as fast as you can because it set up the standard for all surf movies to come.